Sunday, March 15, 2015

.Brian Carney has made a Name for himself and Fondly Remembers his Father Art Carney

Like other kids’ fathers, Brian Carney’s dad left for work
everyday from their Yonkers’ home in the 50s. On the other hand, the then
elementary schooler soon noticed that his father’s profession had the attention
of almost everyone. “It seemed everybody talked about what he did,” says Carney
of his father Art of Honeymooner’s fame. But if the picture above looks
familiar, it should – the son attaining a measure of celebrity of his own.

“I played opposite the Geiko Gecko as the CEO from
2008-2011,” says the Purdy’s resident.

While enjoying the very lucrative run, the creative
interplay between him and lizard also appealed. The chance to be an actual
celebrity wasn’t so bad either. “I really enjoyed being recognized by people,”
says the 69 year old.

The experience also gave him a sense of what his father
went through and shed light on why he rejected the spotlight. “It could become
wearing on you,” Carney revealed.

Still, that doesn’t mean the long time voice over and
commercial actor had any reservations about doing the spots. “I was hoping
they’d go for 15 or 20 years,” he says.

But despite the success of the ads, he knew ultimately they
would end. “You get a letter saying your services are no longer needed,” he
says.

The impetus turned out to be a change in ad agencies, but
it certainly hasn’t left him a lack of work. “I’ve gotten into elderly
medications. My latest was for Advair,” he says.

Acting, though, was not something his father pushed him
toward. “I wanted to be a vet, but I found out I had to become a doctor first
and then go to more school. I didn’t want to do that,” he remembers.

His other interest was music, singing in the Glee Club and
the church choir. He eventually learned guitar, and after high school, took to
playing a college circuit of coffee shops for almost ten years. “It was very
rewarding, I learned a lot about life and saw much of the country,” he
says.

The time also had Carney serving in the National Guard and
the hair pictured actually survived much of his stint. Stuffing my locks under a short hair wig, he
says, “I got away with it for three years.”

The grind did finally catch up with him, and he landed his
first commercial almost 40 years ago for Chase Bank. “You don’t make nearly as
much money in TV commercials as people think,” he says.

Still, he’s not complaining and prefers this to the
occasional TV roles because of all the free time it leaves to do things like
fishing and riding his Harley. “No crashes but I have dropped the bike a couple
of times in gas stations moving from one pump to another,” he says.

Ed Norton couldn’t have scripted it better himself, but the
son admits any attempts to imitate his father usually fell short. “One thing he
did have was impeccable timing. I would hear things he would do and try to
recreate them, and in that split second, it wasn’t as funny,” says Carney.

As for instances in which fatherly discipline had to be
handed down, the younger never experienced any confusion in the wake of the
goofy character the rest of us knew. “When he got mad, he’d scare the hell out
of you. He didn’t have to lay a hand on you. He’d walk in my room, bang the door
with the flat of his hand, and I’d just about go in my pants,” he
remembers.

Even so, he affectionately remembers him as a good father
and is proud of the seven Emmys and Oscar received for Harry and Tonto in
1974.

An honor nearly equaled by his co-star in The Hustler but
their relationship was mostly a professional one. “They didn’t socialize much,”
says Carney.

Brian’s own interaction was also limited. In the few times
they met, his Dad would usually say, “do you remember my son” and the larger
than life star typically greeted him in passing. “Hi-yaah pal, how’s school
going,” Gleason would bellow, according to Carney.

At the same time, Carney is mum on any untold stories,
which have passed down to him from some of the old timers. “My father took the
5th on them so if he didn’t admit to them, I’m not going to start
talking about them but nothing that would have been any real trouble,” he says.

These days, Carney still loves to tee up the Honeymooner
marathons when they run. “Hello Ball,” he revels, but any revenue generated
never gets near his bank account. “My father took $100,000 buyout in 1955
because he needed the money,” says Carney.

No problem, this Carney is going to keep doing what he’s
doing and playing parts that maybe don’t get as many laughs as his father but
keeps him rolling nonetheless.